The economics of GM food labels: An evaluation of mandatory labeling proposals in India

"Labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods is a contentious issue and internationally, there is sharp division whether such labeling ought to be mandatory. This debate has reached India where the government has proposed mandatory labeling. In this context, this paper evaluates the optimal regulatory approach to GM food labels. Mandatory labeling aims to provide greater information and correspondingly more informed consumer choice. However, even without such laws, markets have incentives to supply labeling. So can mandatory labeling achieve outcomes different from voluntary labeling? The paper shows that this is not the case in most situations. The paper goes on to explore the special set of circumstances, where mandatory labeling makes a difference to outcomes. If these outcomes are intended, mandatory labeling is justified; otherwise not." from Authors' AbstractBiotechnology Economic aspects, Genetically modified food Developing countries, Biosafety, Food labeling,

Diffusion of Bt Cotton in India: Impact of Seed Prices and Technological Development

Recent studies in the literature examining impact of government seed price intervention on adoption of Bt cotton get different results depending on the specifics of the situation analyzed. According to one study, reduction in seed prices enables farmers to buy seeds at lower prices and this can result in surge of area sown under Bt cotton. The other view holds that seed price interventions have little impact on the adoption rates rather these interventions may adversely affect firms’ incentives to innovate. Which of the two views characterize adoption of Bt cotton in India? Using three variations of dynamic logistic model, this paper analyzes the impact of certain economic factors like seed prices, technological development, and cotton prices on the diffusion of Bt cotton in India. It uses panel data set covering 9 major cotton growing states over the years 2002 to 2008 and finds that although seed prices were significant in impacting the diffusion rates, its impact was limited. The study also sheds light on the significance of technological development in impacting diffusion rates.Diffusion of technology, Bt cotton, Seed price interventions, Technological development., Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Land Economics/Use, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, O33, Q16,

Labeling genetically modified food in India: Economic consequences in four marketing channels

In 2006, India proposed a draft rule requiring the labeling of all genetically modified (GM) foods and products derived thereof. In this paper, we use primary and secondary market data to assess the economic implications of introducing such a mandatory labeling policy for GM food. We focus on four products that would likely be the first affected by such a regulation in India: cottonseed oil, soybean oil, brinjal (eggplant), and rice. We find that GM food labeling would generate a specific market outcome for each of these products. With GM labeling, virtually all cottonseed oil would be labeled as GM, with limited costs for all actors involved, but also limited benefit for consumers. Labeling soybean oil derived from GM crops could affect market shares for edible oils at the benefit of domestic oils, and non-GM soybean oil could appear on the market at a very limited scale. Labeling GM brinjal would be extremely challenging. Assuming it was implemented, some non-GM brinjal would be sold at a premium in high-income retail outlets, while virtually all others would be labeled GM. A similar outcome would occur for rice, with high-quality rice used for both domestic consumption and exports markets certified non-GM and most of the remaining rice labeled as GM. In each of the cases, labeling would generate significant adjustment costs for the industry and large enforcement costs, and consumer benefit would not always be visible and would highly depend on the degree of enforcement. In fact, voluntary labeling could achieve less-distorted results with lower costs and therefore appears to be a superior regulatory solution. Still, provided enforcement is ensured, a well-designed mandatory labeling regulation with limited product coverage, a non-zero labeling threshold, and an informative labeling content would lead to a much better outcome and lower costs in India than the current draft rule, especially if it is accompanied by a large awareness campaign regarding GM food and consumer safety in India.Genetically modified food, Labeling, market shares, domestic consumption, soybean oil, export markets, rice, cottonseed oil, enforcement costs, consumer safety, Food marketing, Genetic resources,

Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Soil Aggregates and Carbon Footprint after Long-term Bio-cover, Crop Sequence, and Phosphorus Management under No-tillage

The use of agronomic conservation practices can enhance soil C and N sequestration via mitigating C and N emissions. However, the long-term influences of bio-covers, crop sequences, and phosphorus (P) fertilization on aggregate-associated soil organic C (SOC) and N and C-equivalent emissions are largely unknown in no-tillage systems. The objectives of this research were to determine soil aggregate-associated C and N status and C footprint, net C gain, and sustainability index under crop sequences of corn, soybean, and cotton interacted with bio-covers of poultry litter, hairy vetch, winter wheat, and fallow, which represent the major cropping systems in the Mid-south; and examine the effects of P application rates (0, 29, 59, 88, and 117 kg P ha-1) on SOC and N on field with low to medium P fertility levels under corn-wheat-soybean systems. The long-term bio-cover and crop sequence experiments (2002-2017) and P fertilization trials (2009-2018) at Milan and Springfield, Tennessee under no-tillage were used for this research. Poultry litter resulted in higher SOC and N concentrations in microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm) at 0-5 cm than hairy vetch, wheat, and fallow. Crop sequences involving corn (continuous corn, corn-soybean, and cotton-corn) caused higher SOC levels in microaggregates at 0-5 cm than the other sequences. Annual application of 88 kg P ha-1 accumulated higher SOC and N than 0, 29, and 59 kg P ha-1 while over-application of P at 117 kg ha-1 decreased SOC on low P soil. Out of six cropping sequences, soybean involving systems of continuous soybean, corn-soybean and soybean-cotton had higher C-footprint of 3.09, 3.09 and 2.48 kg CO2 eq. per kg yield, respectively. In conclusion, a corn involving crop sequence integrated with poultry litter as a winter bio-cover outperforms the other crop sequence and bio-cover systems in terms of serving as SOC and N sinks in microaggregates and enhancing soil C and N sequestration. The SOC and N stocks can be increased with appropriate P application on P deficient soils. Integration of continuous corn or cotton-corn with poultry litter reduces C-footprint but increase net C gain and sustainability index relative to the other cropping systems

Comparison of Dubowitz scoring versus Ballard scoring for assessment of fetal maturation of newly born infants setting

Background: Different scoring systems based on neurological and physical examination are used in the neonatal units for assessment of gestational age. Assessment of gestational age is very much helpful in labelling the newborn to be preterm, term or post – term and to assess the further outcome of the newborn infants. Present study was performed to test the accuracy and reliability of the Ballard scoring system as compared to Dubowitz scoring system on 250 newborn infants and their correlation with the gestational age as calculated from first day of mother’s last menstrual period. In infants of 38 weeks onwards correlation of gestational age was done with the extension of plantar creases over sole.Methods: Infants studied were selected from infants born in Muzaffarnagar Medical College and Hospital Muzaffarnagar and those infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. First of all methods of eliciting different criteria were experienced by examining several newborn infants and then Dubowitz and Ballard scoring system were performed separately and gestational age assessed. crease was measured, using metallic scale from base of great toe after stretching the sole.Results: Gestational ages estimated by Ballard scoring system and Dubowitz system strongly correlated with the gestational ages computed from the date of mother’s last menstrual period. The coefficient of correlation calculated between Ballard and Dubowitz scoring system showed perfect positive correlation on the regression line.  Association of gestational age with the length of sole crease was also very significant.Conclusions: The clinical test of maturation described by Ballard et al and which is evaluated in the present study, takes a balanced look at physical and neurological maturation and included those items found to be most useful regardless of the presence or absence of diseased state.

Comparison of ultra high temperature (UHT) stability of high protein milk dispersions prepared from milk protein concentrate (MPC) and conventional low heat skimmed milk powder (SMP)

This study compared the UHT (145 °C for 5 s) stability and fouling behavior of high protein milk dispersions prepared from reconstituted low heat skimmed milk powder (RSMP) and milk protein concentrate powder (RMPC). It was found that RMPC at 10 and 14% protein content was more UHT stable as compared to lower protein content RSMP (3.25, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8%). Matching the total solids and mineral composition of 7.5-RMPC with 7.5-RSMP by addition of minerals and lactose markedly reduced its UHT stability (UHT run-time reduced to 66 min from >120 min). The RP-HPLC analysis showed increased casein dissociation but similar whey protein aggregation in 7.5-RSMP as compared to 14-RMPC. UHT processing lead to formation of larger particles in case of 7.5-RSMP (1.84 μm D(0.9)) as compared to 14-RMPC (0.23 μm D(0.9)). It was observed that mineral environment affected protein interactions leading to the differences in UHT behavior of RSMP and RMPC

To analyse the semen for various parameters with special reference to lifestyle factors

Background: Male factor is responsible for infertility in 23% cases. Semen analysis is the cornerstone of infertility evaluation as it provides information on the functional status of seminiferous tubules, epididymis and accessory sex glands. Reports in recent years has shown that incidence of male infertility has increased as a result of various factors such as lifestyle, environmental pollution and stress.Methods: This prospective study was conducted on patients reporting for semen analysis in Department of Pathology, Subharti Medical College. The duration of the study was from October 2014 to September 2016 with a study sample of 196 cases. Semen analysis was done by manual method according to WHO 2010 criteria.Results: According to fertility scoring, out of 196 cases, 51 (26%) were infertile cases. With respect to infertile cases 82.4% were alcoholic, 80.4% tobacco smokers, 25.5% were tobacco chewers. These results were statistically significant. Out of 45 cases of oligozoospermia 37 (82.2%) were alcoholic, 36 (80%) were tobacco smoker and 10 (22.2%) were tobacco chewers. Out of 54 cases of asthenozoosperma 38 (70.4%) were alcoholic, 37 (68.5%) were tobacco smoker and 11 (20.4%) were tobacco chewers.Conclusions: Alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and tobacco chewing have a significant negative effect on the process of spermatogenesis, ultimately affecting sperm concentration, viability and motility. Hence clinician and fertility counselors need to be more focused to control infertility by modifying the life style factors.

Comparative Assessment of Some Target Detection Algorithms for Hyperspectral Images

Target detection is of particular interest in hyperspectral image analysis as many unknown and subtle signals (spectral response) unresolved by multispectral sensors can be discovered in hyperspectral images. The detection of signals in the form of small objects and targets from hyperspectral sensors has a wide range of applications both civilian and military. It has been observed that a number of target detection algorithms are in vogue; each has its own advantages and disadvantages and assumptions. The selection of a particular algorithm may depend on the amount of information available as per the requirement of the algorithm, application area, the computational complexity etc. In the present study, three algorithms, namely, orthogonal subspace projection (OSP), constrained energy minimization (CEM) and a nonlinear version of OSP called kernel orthogonal subspace projection (KOSP), have been investigated for target detection from hyperspectral remote sensing data. The efficacy of algorithms has been examined over two different hyperspectral datasets which include a synthetic image and an AVIRIS image. The quality of target detection from these algorithms has been evaluated through visual interpretation as well as through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The performance of OSP algorithm has been found to be better than or comparable to CEM algorithm. However, KOSP out performs both the algorithms.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(1), pp.53-62, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.376

A Political Economy? Some Preliminary Thoughts on Economic Privileges in Early Modern Venice

The paper provides a general view of different typologies of privilege existing in the Republic of Venice from 1500 to 1800, connecting together the results of previous research on the subject to build a more complex view of the Venetian “political economy”. The focus on the Venetian case is justified by its alleged exceptionality, which challenges both the usual assumptions about the operation of economic and political privileges, and the general interpretations of their historical evolution. Yet Venice is here used as a laboratory in which historians could elaborate new questions and concepts useful in the investigation of privileges in pre-industrial economies. In this perspective, the authors deal with 1) fair and export privileges of subject cities, their origin and adaptation from the Renaissance up to the fall of the Republic; 2) the role of commercial privileges and how they were used by central authority in order to allow business cooperation, market integration and industrial development; 3) the functions that industrial privileges performed as tools of the Venetian mercantilist policy in order to foster import-substituting and export activities

Development of rheological and sensory properties of combinations of milk proteins and gelling polysaccharides as potential gelatin replacements in the manufacture of stirred acid milk gels and yogurt

Combinations of gelling polysaccharides (xanthan/locust bean gum [X/L], carrageenan and starch) and milk proteins (whey protein isolate [WPI], sodium caseinate and skim milk powder) were evaluated as potential gelatin replacers in acid milk gels. Gels with added X/L alone showed rheological (gelling and melting) and microstructural (typical casein network with thin strand-like structures) properties similar to those of gels with gelatin. Similar to the effect of adding gelatin, milk protein fortification enhanced water holding capacity (WHC) of the gels, with WPI being the most effective. Gels with combinations of polysaccharides (except carrageenan) and WPI were stronger and had higher WHC than gels with no stabilizer. In yogurt, the combination of WPI and X/L (WPI-X/L) produced similar effects on consistency, pseudoplasticity and apparent viscosity as gelatin and higher sensory scores for thickness and stickiness than gelatin; a lower score for smoothness was observed with WPI-X/L than with gelatin